7 
friends will unite in an endeavour rightly to distinguish the geographical ranges of the 
Marsh-Titmice, especially as regards their distribution in Siberia. A few remarks as to the 
different species may not be out of place here; and we feel that we cannot do better than 
give the observations of the renowned Swedish naturalist, Professor Sundevall, published in 
his ‘ Birds of Sweden.’ He writes as follows:—“ P. palustris is distributed all over Southern 
Sweden up to 61° N. lat., when Parus borealis takes its place entirely in Norrland and Lapland. 
Parus palustris is also found throughout Central Europe. I have examples from Belgium and 
Germany. It is probably found also in Southern Europe; but the extent of the range of the 
allied species, which have in later years been described, is not yet defined. The difference 
between this P. borealis and several foreign forms is scarcely more than in the different races 
of Sparrows, Redpolls, and others; and one is doubtful if they ought to be considered really 
different species or only varieties of one species. In the mountainous regions of Southern France 
and on the Alps there is another form (Parus alpestris, Bailly, P. lugubris, Fairm.), which is 
closest to P. borealis, but is rather larger. In North America there are two species, of which the 
one (P. atricapillus) is rather larger, and the other (P. carolinensis) rather less than our two 
species; both differ but little from the European birds, but have more black on the head, and 
especially on the throat. 
“Though this bird and P. borealis resemble each other so closely, they are easily distinguish- 
able by their note. The call-note of P. palustris is clearer and more melodious. ‘The note has 
been well described by the words dia dia hizi d d; but besides these notes it utters several 
variations of the same sound, in which the long-drawn harsh d-note occurs, which distinguishes 
it from P. borealis.” 
M. Victor Fatio has given an admirable account of P. borealis in Switzerland, which will be 
found thoroughly detailed in the history of the last-named bird ; and it will be seen that he argues 
with reason on behalf of the P. alpestris of Bailly being only a climatic and intermediate variety 
of P. borealis, with which it must be united. But it is more with respect to the Siberian species 
that confusion exists. The exact ranges of Parus baikalensis of Swinhoe, and of P. kamschatkensis 
of Bonaparte, have yet to be determined. The latter is certainly a good species; but as regards 
the former bird we are by no means so certain. Mr. Swinhoe has evidently got a bird in autumnal 
or winter dress; and judging from a Japanese skin, which seems to be referable to the lately 
described species, kindly lent us by Canon Tristram, we believe that it will be found extremely 
difficult to separate P. baikalensis from P. palustris; but in a comparison of specimens care must 
be taken to have the true Scandinavian species, and not the sombre English subspecies. 
In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. 
a, b. Denmark, May 1870, and January 22nd, 1871 (A. Benzon). c. Stockholm, October 23rd, 1861 (C. J. 
Sundevall). d. Cookham, Berks, February Ist, 1871 (J. Ford). e, f,g,4. Hampstead (C. Davy). 1. Pied- 
mont (Salvadori). j. Mount Olympus, November 11th, 1869 (Th. Kriiper). k. Guiken, Asia Minor, 
November Ist (7. Robson). 
105 
